‘Kid glove’ treatment

Press, 25 June 1983, Page 60

‘Kid glove’ treatment

NZPA London Tennis players have accused Wimbledon officials of giving John McEnroe “kid glove” treatment after a confrontation-filled match on the No. 1 court. The game was frequently stopped as McEnroe, aged 24, argued with the line judge, the umpire, and even the crowd. But in spite of a promise that Wimbledon would take a tough line against the fiery No. 2 seed, a penalty point awarded against him was immediately rescinded by a tournament referee, Mr Alan Mills. Other players in the tournament accused organisers of deliberately giving McEnroe soft handling of his position in the tennis league. McEnroe, on the other hand, claimed that all he wanted was “to have fun” playing tennis. Several confrontations occurred during McEnroe’s match against Florin Segerceanu, of Rumania. McEnroe glared menacingly at the foot-fault judge,

hit the ball into the net, and was at one point asked to “keep cool” by his father who was among the spectators.

Later, he angrily hurled his racquet to the ground and, after a time violation, received an official warning from the umpire, Malcolm Huntington. McEnroe loudly questioned the competence of the foot-fault judge and demanded to see the referee. As the match progressed, Mr Mills had to make a second apperance on court when McEnroe was given a penalty point for “ball abuse.” “That was an untrue decision, a disgraceful decision,” McEnroe yelled, warning that he would not go on playing unless Mr Huntington changed his attitude. “I do not think I deserve this kind of treatment and I do not want this person,” he said. “I do not think someone in the chair who is doing what he is doing to me deserves to be there.”